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The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is honoring the life and legacy of one of its founding members.Earlier this month, Odessa Woolfolk, a lifelong advocate for civil rights and a champion of social justice, was named the recipient of the 2024 Fred L. Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award.A beacon of change in the community, Shuttlesworth devoted himself to challenging segregation, establishing the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights, as well as joining Martin Luther King Jr. in the formation of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.Recipients of the prestigious award are said to embody Shuttlesworth's "spirit of courage, determination, and unwavering commitment to justice," all of which shine through as major facets of Woolfolk's character.Born in Birmingham's Titusville community, Woolfolk graduated from Parker High School before attending Talladega College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in history and political science. She also obtained a Master of Arts in urban studies at Occidental College in California and was a national urban fellow at Yale University, according to the Alabama Academy of Honor.Following her studies, Woolfolk returned to Birmingham, where she began a career as an educator, taking a teaching job at the now-closed Ullman High School in the early '60s. While there, she played an instrumental role in shaping the minds of several foot soldiers in the Civil Rights Movement, many of whom marched with Shuttlesworth and King.Woolfolk then left the classroom behind to pursue a career in public policy, holding positions at the Urban Reinvestment Task Force in Washington, D.C., as well as the New York State Urban Development Corporation, YWCA, and Arbor Hill Community Center and Inter-Racial Council in New York.In the 1970s, Woolfolk was once again called home to Alabama when she was tasked with heading up the Birmingham Opportunity Industrialization Center and the Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity as executive director and associate executive director, respectively.Her return to the Magic City also marked her return to the field of education. She held various positions at UAB, including lecturer, staff associate, assistant to the president for community relations and director of the Center for Urban Affairs for more than 20 years until her retirement in the early '90s.In 1992, Woolfolk played a key role in founding the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, serving as both its first president and board chair."The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute signifies that Birmingham does not hide from its past," Woolfolk once wrote. "It acknowledges that where once the city housed two people, Black and White, unknown to one another except through the painful thread of segregation, Birmingham now embraces its past, neither forgetting nor dwelling on it, but using it to foster understanding.""The Institute recognizes the redemptive importance of memory," she continued. "It is both a time capsule, and a modern day think-tank focused on seeking equitable solutions to common problems. In some ways the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute functions as a town square where the community gathers to discuss common concerns. It is a place where yesterday's struggles inspire a brighter tomorrow. It is a meeting ground for the makers of everyday history, and for those who write about the present."Woolfolk will receive the award at the Institute’s 32nd-anniversary celebration Thursday between 4 and 7 p.m."We are honored to present the Fred L. Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award to Odessa Woolfolk, whose lifelong dedication to human and civil rights has shaped the course of history in Birmingham and beyond," said Rosilyn Houston, newly elected chair of the board of directors of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. "Her vision, leadership, and tireless advocacy continue to inspire new generations to stand up for justice and equality. Odessa Woolfolk exemplifies the very essence of what this award stands for."
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —
The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is honoring the life and legacy of one of its founding members.
Earlier this month, Odessa Woolfolk, a lifelong advocate for civil rights and a champion of social justice, was named the recipient of the 2024 Fred L. Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award.
A beacon of change in the community, Shuttlesworth devoted himself to challenging segregation, establishing the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights, as well as joining Martin Luther King Jr. in the formation of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
Recipients of the prestigious award are said to embody Shuttlesworth's "spirit of courage, determination, and unwavering commitment to justice," all of which shine through as major facets of Woolfolk's character.
Born in Birmingham's Titusville community, Woolfolk graduated from Parker High School before attending Talladega College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in history and political science.
She also obtained a Master of Arts in urban studies at Occidental College in California and was a national urban fellow at Yale University, according to the Alabama Academy of Honor.
Following her studies, Woolfolk returned to Birmingham, where she began a career as an educator, taking a teaching job at the now-closed Ullman High School in the early '60s. While there, she played an instrumental role in shaping the minds of several foot soldiers in the Civil Rights Movement, many of whom marched with Shuttlesworth and King.
Woolfolk then left the classroom behind to pursue a career in public policy, holding positions at the Urban Reinvestment Task Force in Washington, D.C., as well as the New York State Urban Development Corporation, YWCA, and Arbor Hill Community Center and Inter-Racial Council in New York.
In the 1970s, Woolfolk was once again called home to Alabama when she was tasked with heading up the Birmingham Opportunity Industrialization Center and the Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity as executive director and associate executive director, respectively.
Her return to the Magic City also marked her return to the field of education. She held various positions at UAB, including lecturer, staff associate, assistant to the president for community relations and director of the Center for Urban Affairs for more than 20 years until her retirement in the early '90s.
In 1992, Woolfolk played a key role in founding the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, serving as both its first president and board chair.
"The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute signifies that Birmingham does not hide from its past," Woolfolk once wrote. "It acknowledges that where once the city housed two people, Black and White, unknown to one another except through the painful thread of segregation, Birmingham now embraces its past, neither forgetting nor dwelling on it, but using it to foster understanding."
"The Institute recognizes the redemptive importance of memory," she continued. "It is both a time capsule, and a modern day think-tank focused on seeking equitable solutions to common problems. In some ways the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute functions as a town square where the community gathers to discuss common concerns. It is a place where yesterday's struggles inspire a brighter tomorrow. It is a meeting ground for the makers of everyday history, and for those who write about the present."
Woolfolk will receive the award at the Institute’s 32nd-anniversary celebration Thursday between 4 and 7 p.m.
"We are honored to present the Fred L. Shuttlesworth Human Rights Award to Odessa Woolfolk, whose lifelong dedication to human and civil rights has shaped the course of history in Birmingham and beyond," said Rosilyn Houston, newly elected chair of the board of directors of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. "Her vision, leadership, and tireless advocacy continue to inspire new generations to stand up for justice and equality. Odessa Woolfolk exemplifies the very essence of what this award stands for."
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